Easter/Passover weekend seems like a good time to do some soul searching and look at what is happening today in religion. Today is not so different than years past. I would like to think we’ve become more civilized and objective, but the truth is, there are still many people in the world that have worked very hard to turn religion into hate. It is a twisted and hateful minority to be sure, but it is all too prevalent.

The first thing that probably comes to most people’s minds is militant Islamists and their calls for Jihad and death to infidels. It is certainly twisted and wrong and goes against what Islam generally teaches. Of a less destructive, but still disturbing approach are Saudi Arabia and other ultra conservative Islamic countries that prevent women from having many rights.

But before we get too high on our horse, let’s consider the recent ruckus over “freedom of religion” bills in conservative states that promote hatred and bigotry. There really isn’t much difference between a Christian twisting their religion into anti-gay rhetoric and a Muslim twisting their religion into a hateful call of death to infidels. In California we even have a “Christian” nut job that is trying to get a ballot initiative that would call for the killing of gay people.